Mulct

Pronunciation

• IPA: /mÊŒlkt/

Origin

From Latin mulcta, from Proto-Italic.

Full definition of mulct

Noun

1. (legal) A fine or penalty, especially a pecuniary one.
• 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I:juries cast up what a wife is worth,
  By laying whate'er sum in mulct they please on
  The lover, who must pay a handsome price,
  Because it is a marketable vice.
• 1846, Thomas Babington Macauley, The History of England from the Accession of James II, Volume 3, Porter & Coates, Chapter XI:The Act of Uniformity had laid a mulct of a hundred pounds on every person who, not having received episcopal ordination, should presume to administer the Eucharist.
• 1846, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic, 10th ed., Volume I, page xxxvi, note...by the Salic law, no higher mulct was imposed for killing, than for kidnapping a slave.

Verb

1. To impose such a fine or penalty.
• Wodehouse Offing|XVI|I say that I have seen the current issue of the Thursday Review, and I can quite understand him wanting to mulct the journal in substantial damages ...
2. To swindle (someone) out of money.